Two ships have banned smoking in casino so far

[Matt]

Heard from passengers on Freedom and Harmony that smoking banned in casino as of today.

[AlmondFarmer]

Now that’s a breath of fresh air.

[D Alt]

Good!

[IzzyB]

Harmony?  Nice, I might actually gamble more if there is no smoking on my upcoming cruise.

[WAAAYTOOO]

Boy, they’re really begging people to cancel !

[Reigert2008]

38 minutes ago, D Alt said:

Good!

I agree.  I hope this is the start of banning indoor smoking completely.  We go to a land based casino in Ohio that is smoke free and it is doing well, so i don't think smokers would avoid the casino on the ship.  

[Atlantix2000]

Awesome news!

[AlmondFarmer]

13 minutes ago, Reigert2008 said:

so i don't think smokers would avoid the casino on the ship.  

While smokers may not avoid the casino completely, having to leave casino and find their way up to the pool deck to “get their fix” will interrupt the process of giving Royal Caribbean their money. 
I will be surprised if casino smoking policy change is maintained. 
 

Disclosure: this thought is coming from a non gambler (besides being a farmer) and non smoker. 

[smokeybandit]

This kind of stuff annoys me. Do they have evidence that a leading cause of covid cases on a cruise ship are due to smokers in the casino? Or is this just a dart board measures to make it look like they're doing something.

 

Adding masking is dumb in my opinion for various reasons, but at least there's widespread precedent for it. Picking on the smokers though?

[not easy being green]

One thing we LOVE about Celebrity is the casino is non smoking all the time.  We don't smoke and hate smelling like an ashtray.

[D Alt]

I think this should be a permanent change not because of COVID but because of Second-Hand smoke and the smell that stays on your clothes. I'd like to enjoy some gambling without having to smell like a chimney. 

Q

Is smoking permitted in Royal Caribbean's casino?

A

 

 

NOTICE: For cruises departing on or before January 5th, 2022, smoking is not permitted in the casino due to the recently modified policy that now requires face coverings at vaccinated-only venues. We will be continually re-evaluating this policy to modify or extend according to the latest public health information.

Yes. During operating hours, the casino will allow smoking, with certain areas designated as non-smoking. There will be visible signage indicating the non-smoking area in the casino. All cruises departing from China and Hong Kong will not have a non-smoking area in the casino. Smoking is not permitted in the casino for any ships departing from Australia and the United Kingdom.

[bobroo]

As loose as Casino Royale has become giving away drinks, free cruises, and cruise discounts....banning smoking will have no effect on the amount of play the casinos receive. There are plenty of compliant players trying to get the free goodies.

 

I predict the rule change becomes permanent and Casino Royale will be better off and far more profitable.

 

 

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, D Alt said:

I think this should be a permanent change not because of COVID but because of Second-Hand smoke and the smell that stays on your clothes. I'd like to enjoy some gambling without having to smell like a chimney. 

Q

Is smoking permitted in Royal Caribbean's casino?

A

 

 

NOTICE: For cruises departing on or before January 5th, 2022, smoking is not permitted in the casino due to the recently modified policy that now requires face coverings at vaccinated-only venues. We will be continually re-evaluating this policy to modify or extend according to the latest public health information.

Yes. During operating hours, the casino will allow smoking, with certain areas designated as non-smoking. There will be visible signage indicating the non-smoking area in the casino. All cruises departing from China and Hong Kong will not have a non-smoking area in the casino. Smoking is not permitted in the casino for any ships departing from Australia and the United Kingdom.

 

With that in mind they aren't really banning smoking outright. They're banning smoking because of the mask rule, so it doesn't seem as arbitrary to me as it did before.

[IzzyB]

I honestly never understood why they haven't banned smoking before this.  I know very few smokers, the large majority of people I know hate being around smokers.  So having smoke free casino seems more people would want to gamble. 

Honestly this masks rule until Jan 5th is working out nicely for me.  I wasn't planning on going to clubs or bars anyways since I have kids.  The only thing is the adult comedy I will now have to wear a mask.  And now with the new mask rule the casinos will be smoke free.  This is a huge win. Not to mention all the people cancelling because of the new policies means less people on the ship.  Which is honestly my #1 concern because when I booked everything stated reduced capacity so I would love for capacity to be lower.

[Ampurp85]

I hate the smoke; it makes it harder for me to give RCG my money

[Vancity Cruiser]

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

This kind of stuff annoys me. Do they have evidence that a leading cause of covid cases on a cruise ship are due to smokers in the casino? Or is this just a dart board measures to make it look like they're doing something.

 

Adding masking is dumb in my opinion for various reasons, but at least there's widespread precedent for it. Picking on the smokers though?

Unpopular opinion. Banning indoor smoking has more health benefit than all the other (covid related) protocols combined

[smokeybandit]

6 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

Unpopular opinion. Banning indoor smoking has more health benefit than all the other (covid related) protocols combined

Oh I'm all for banning smoking in casinos for plenty of non-covid reasons. 

[Ms white]

Currently on second night on board Oasis of the Seas Holiday cruise and they suddenly inexplicably with no warning banned smoking in the casino!  I’m told by guest services this is fleet wide through at least Jan 5th. Would NEVER EVER have boarded this ship if I had known this was even a remote possibility. Be warned if you like to smoke while you gamble that is currently no longer allowed! WORST CRUISE EVER!!

[AspiringCruisePlanner]

I'd like to hear this band and hear why they are smoking in the casinos

[D Alt]

[Plumlee2028]

Ive heard of worse cruises.  There's several movies about them.  They often involve ships named after oceanic gods or names bragging about their size.  

[Reigert2008]

25 minutes ago, Ms white said:

Currently on second night on board Oasis of the Seas Holiday cruise and they suddenly inexplicably with no warning banned smoking in the casino!  I’m told by guest services this is fleet wide through at least Jan 5th. Would NEVER EVER have boarded this ship if I had known this was even a remote possibility. Be warned if you like to smoke while you gamble that is currently no longer allowed! WORST CRUISE EVER!!

Hopefully things turn around for you. I’m sure it’s frustrating when changes occur at the last minute.  I’m not sure this would qualify as “WORST CRUISE EVER”, but to each their own.  
 

stay safe

 

[smokeybandit]

[BrianB]

On the Anthem…delivered tonight…

 

[BrianB]

I think every passenger who chooses to cruise during this time of transition, change and uncertainty…must know and expect that there are ‘remote possibilities’ that you may experience your ‘worse cruise ever’. From being infected..or quarantined…or itineraries changed…or mask wearing issues…or shows cancelled.

Anything can happen and you should be prepared for it. Even if you never, ever expect it. Or you can choose not to cruise now. Either way…it’s your choice.

[barbeyg]

51 minutes ago, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

I'd like to hear this band and hear why they are smoking in the casinos

I thought the same thing.  

OP, welcome to Royal Caribbean Blog.  If you return, I’m sorry you are disappointed. Sailing during a pandemic means we have to be flexible. There are smoking areas on the ship.

[barbeyg]

4 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Boy, they’re really begging people to cancel !

And it was the busiest place on the ship when we sailed, even the last night.

I figure it’s because of the ‘I’m smoking and can’t wear my mask while I smoke’ ploy.  Similar to the ‘I have this drink to my mouth constantly while I’m moving from venue to venue’ ploy.  

Gosh I would hate to have to enforce any masking rules, but the ‘no smoking’ rule? You couldn’t pay me enough to do THAT job. I would have to drink on the job to get thru the day. 

[tonyfsu21]

I guess everyone has their own set of priorities and where they draw the line in the sand. Ms White likes her cigarettes while gambling clearly. At this point, nothing regarding rules and protocols on cruise ships surprises me anymore. You need to get on that ship with the understanding that this is not 2019. 

[leesam82]

18 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I guess everyone has their own set of priorities and where they draw the line in the sand. Ms White likes her cigarettes while gambling clearly. At this point, nothing regarding rules and protocols on cruise ships surprises me anymore. You need to get on that ship with the understanding that this is not 2019. 

I would say even prior to 2019 there have been unforeseen changes such as itinerary changes or port cancelations. I am not a smoker but I am a gambler and I personally welcome this change. 

[Ampurp85]

I don't think this person will post again......the shakes from not being allowed to smoke in the casino won't allow them to type.

[MattG]

2 hours ago, Ms white said:

suddenly inexplicably

I can think of a few explicables…

[Pattycruise]

I’m wondering if those on these ships realize there were 45 cases in Symphony.

I wonder if the cases from Symphony had the casino in common! 

[SPS]

Worst cruise ever?

I'm sure the former passengers of the Costa Concordia and the Achille Lauro would disagree, but, ok.

[castle25]

hopefully smoking will be banned forever all over the ship

[Matt]

More info: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/20/spotted-royal-caribbean-bans-smoking-casinos-due-omicron-variant-concern

[BrianB]

They didn’t ban smoking onboard…just in the casino. The ban on smoking in the casino is due to the new masking rule. People who smoke can not wear a mask while smoking. On the Anthem, they announced a new smoking area outside on deck 5 so smokers don’t have to go all the way to the pool deck. Inconvenient, yes…but so is wearing a mask all the time indoors.

[Lin]

Did they provide an additional smoking area outdoors close to the casino? 

[tonyfsu21]

10 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I don't think this person will post again......the shakes from not being allowed to smoke in the casino won't allow them to type.

Ms White must have hit triple 7’s last night in the casino for a $100k win and suddenly realized her luck in the casino is not directly tied to the way she times her cigarette puffs! 

[HeWhoWaits]

A smoking ban in the casino would normally induce me to spend more time in the casino. With the mask mandate in indoor areas, it might not, as I would try to spend as much time as possible outdoors where it isn't required.

I'm also one who would seek clarity on what qualifies as "actively drinking." Does that mean I am putting the glass, bottle, can, or cup up to my lips RIGHT NOW? Or does it mean I have a beverage that I am taking a swig (or sip) every couple of minutes? 

[tonyfsu21]

7 minutes ago, HeWhoWaits said:

A smoking ban in the casino would normally induce me to spend more time in the casino. With the mask mandate in indoor areas, it might not, as I would try to spend as much time as possible outdoors where it isn't required.

I'm also one who would seek clarity on what qualifies as "actively drinking." Does that mean I am putting the glass, bottle, can, or cup up to my lips RIGHT NOW? Or does it mean I have a beverage that I am taking a swig (or sip) every couple of minutes? 

It all changes once you pass through the gangway.